The CEO's Temporary Assistant

Elise Cortez

"Olive, wait!" Olivia stopped in her tracks but didn't look at Elise. The latter hurried to catch up with the CEO so she could at least see her face.

"I-I don't know what happened. I'm sorry," she said, feeling a little dazed as Olivia finally turned her brown eyes towards her.

"I don't care, Miss Cortez. That's all I can say."

Confused, Elise faced her again and replied, "What do you mean you don't care?" Olivia started walking again, and Elise had to follow her strides. They reached Olivia's Maserati, but Elise managed to stop Olivia from getting inside the car.

"Get your filthy hand away from my car."

"My hand is not filthy, Miss Fabien," Elise said, furious. They stood glaring at each other, but it was Olivia who broke the contact, shoving Elise aside to get into the car. Elise almost picked up her slippers to throw them at Olivia's face but managed to keep her cool.

"Olive, please. Let's talk about this."

"Not now."

"Olivia Fabien, please!"

Olivia stopped moving, exasperation evident on her face. "You know, I keep wondering why my grandmother likes you. I just don't get it," Olivia said mockingly, eyeing Elise from head to toe.

"What are you implying?"

"You don't pass my standards, that is."

Elise pursed her lips as she felt herself trembling in anger.

"I mean, look at you."

"How could you be so blunt?"

"That's the kind of person I am, Elise Cortez. I don't understand why my grandmother keeps pushing you to me when she knows we are poles apart."

Elise felt her eyes burning as she listened. Olivia's harsh words were incredibly hurtful. Is this really the kind of person Olivia is?

"You love insulting people, don't you?" she said, stifling a sob so she would not look even more pathetic in front of her.

"I do. Especially people like you."

"P-people like me?" Elise gasped in disbelief.

"Leeches. That's what you are."

Elise felt her heart pulsating as she angrily stared at the woman in front of her. "How could you say that to me? You don't even know me!"

"That's the point! You just came barging into our lives and claimed it like it's your own. And to think that you are not even making an effort! I had to live my life dreaming of my grandmother's approval, but you—you just did it flawlessly. Why, Elise? Who the hell are you?"

"I don't know, Olive! I don't get it either. Just like you, I have no idea. If you think I like your grandma's idea, then you are wrong!"

"Then why are you still here?!" Olivia replied, moving her arms and raking her hair with her fingertips. Elise was taken aback, shocked at Olivia's booming voice.

"You really want to know?" Her expression had completely changed. "Don't you get it? My aunt and I are here because your grandmother knows you'll never sit with her until she dies."

"W-what?"

"You heard it right, Olivia. You didn't even visit her in the hospital when she was confined. She feels alone, dejected, and constantly wonders when her favorite grandchild will take the time to visit her. Tell me, Olivia. What have you done to your grandmother that has made her genuinely happy? Do you think being the enigmatic CEO that you are makes her a successful grandmother to you? She misses you, Olivia. But you—you are selfish and ambitious. Too ambitious to understand that the world doesn't only revolve around you! That someone else needs you more than anything. Your grandmother is dying, but all you do is act like it's nothing at all."

Elise paused to catch her breath, letting the confrontation sink into Olivia's thick skull.

"If you think you are so special to me, then you are mistaken. I'm here because of Mrs. Fabien. I think I already said this before, and I will say it again. I will never like you, Olivia Fabien!"

With gritted teeth, Olivia stared at her but did not say a thing. She managed to get inside her Maserati, cranking the engine as Elise stepped aside to give her way.

Elise wiped her tears away. It's no use, she thought. Crying for a girl who is as cold as ice. With a sigh, Elise marched back to the sanctuary. She hated hurting people, but she wondered whether or not Olivia was affected by her words. Above anyone else, she was the one feeling the pain. But why? Why was she hurting because of Olivia?

She could feel the weariness as she approached everyone again. The afternoon sun was already retreating as the three other people continued to sit on their chairs, looking in her direction as if anticipating Olivia's approval.

"So, where is she?" Xander asked, beaming and munching a cookie that the cook had served them earlier.

"She's gone."

"Let her be," the old woman interjected. "She'll come through eventually."

"I still find this ridiculous, Mrs. Fabien. If she were my boss, I'd be done!" Elise replied, sighing as she found her way back to her seat.

"Why don’t we just let Elise choose between me and Olivia?" Xander suggested. "I mean, I can take care of her."

"That would only complicate the situation further, Xander," the old woman replied. "Besides, I have this strong feeling that it is Elise who can help make Olivia's foul mood brighten a little."

"So, is that your main reason, Mrs. Fabien?" Aunt Milda asked as she reached for Elise's hand.

"That, and along with many other reasons. Bigger ones."

"What reasons?" Elise asked again, frustration consuming her mind. She was tired of asking questions that the old lady wouldn't give answers to.

"You'll know soon enough, child."

Elise was perfectly aware of how cranky Olivia was, and she had been one of the reasons for that these past few days. Still, it didn't make sense.

“Mrs. Fabien, I am really confused,” Elise said again in a small voice when she had finally found the courage to speak. "One moment, I was just accompanying my aunt, and now, I'm already an assistant? Why exactly are you doing this? Why are you helping me when you know nothing about me? You see, m-my aunt and I—we are only here because of you. We want to take care of you, but when the job is done, we'll go back to the province. Nothing more, nothing less."

It felt wrong to explain that to Mrs. Fabien, especially if one knew how to read between the lines. It almost seemed like they had only been waiting for the old woman's death.

Mrs. Fabien suddenly looked grim as she stared at each of the people around her. "Don't you want to make a sick old lady happy before she dies?"

"I-it's not like that," Elise muttered. But surely, why exactly was she feeling indignant?

“I-I think it’s time for Mrs. Fabien to take her medication inside," came a voice from Aunt Milda. "We'll talk about this some other time. Come on now, old bone."

They silently watched the old ladies moving away, but the tension was still felt in the air.

"Attorney, do you think I can still convince Mrs. Fabien to take back—"

"Ms. Cortez, when I spoke to Mrs. Fabien, I saw how determined she was about this whole arrangement. So, you better start accepting your fate because one way or another, you'll end up working for the Fabiens. Anyway, I've got to go," the lawyer said as he tucked away his suitcase and documents. "Oh, how I love the drama you wealthy people always have up your sleeves."

"Thanks, attorney," Xander replied as he extended his hand to the lawyer. They exited the lawn, and Elise was left with her thoughts.

***

The way Olivia clenched her fist and how her jaw tightened as she spoke revealed her disapproval.

"We've already talked about this. I don't need an assistant!"

Everybody was aware of Olivia Fabien being the workaholic boss that she was. She moved at her own pace, but that motion was almost superhuman. At eighteen, she had been hospitalized due to fatigue and stress. How else would she reach the top if not by being completely focused on her goals?

"This is too much, Gran."

"Olivia, please don't get angry," the old lady pleaded as she carefully touched her granddaughter's hand. Olivia sighed and ran her hand through her hair. She believed her grandmother had an explanation for her decisions, given how clever she was. But what was it? What game was she playing?

"Mrs. Fabien, why are you doing this?" Elise asked, tears brimming in her eyes. She couldn't quite figure out if she was happy about the news or burdened by it.

"I can't accept this, Mrs. Fabien. It really is too much."

Olivia stared at the probinsyana, assessing her face, hoping to find a clue as to why her grandmother favored this girl so much.

"I know you might think it's hasty and ridiculous, Elise, Olivia, but my decision is final."

"B-but, Mrs. Fabien, why me?" Elise asked again, her voice resigned as she sought an answer.

Yeah, why her? From Olivia's perspective, her grandmother seemed so sure about it, and Olivia couldn't understand why. Over the years, she had seen people come and go in their lives, people who had betrayed and hurt them in unimaginable ways. She had learned never to trust too easily, and her grandmother was the one who had taught her that. And yet, as she sat in that wheelchair, bringing them together and announcing her irrevocable decisions, she appeared like a completely different person to Olivia.

"Gran, why?" she finally uttered the words. "Elise is a stranger."

"Olivia, believe me when I say that she is not a stranger to me," the old woman calmly replied.

"But she is to me, Gran," Olivia insisted, her voice growing louder as the realization sank in.

"You'll train her well, Olivia. End of discussion."

The old woman sat erect, clasping her hands together. When she did that, Olivia knew from experience that there was no turning back. "Fine," she muttered as she turned on her heels and left. Elise caught up with her, following her to her car, and that led to a serious confrontation.

A faint smile crossed Olivia's lips as she remembered the angry words Elise had thrown at her that afternoon.

"If you think you're so special to me, then you're mistaken. I think I've already said this before, and I'll say it again. I will never like you, Olivia Fabien!"

The words echoed in her head as she consumed the vodka in her hand. Right after their fight, she had gone directly to the office, burying herself in work, hoping against all odds that she would be able to understand the games her grandmother was playing.

It was already past midnight. The bar was alive as customers came and went. There were plenty of ladies who wanted to drink with her, but she refused them all. Tonight, she wasn't in the mood for their company. Elise's hurt eyes kept flashing in her mind.

The music in the bar blared as she sashayed to the counter. The red and violet lights from the expensive lighting blurred her vision.

"Rough night, Boss?"

She could only nod at the server as he handed her another bottle of vodka.

"Well, I guess wealthy people like you also have their problems."

"Can you please dial someone for me?" She could barely form a coherent sentence as she fished her phone from her pocket.

"Who's the lucky guy?"

"A girl, actually."

"What's her name?"

"Elise. Elise Cortez."

Olivia became agitated as the phone rang in the background. The music was loud, intensifying the beating of her heart. "Pick up, Elise," she whispered as the ringing became clearer. And just as the last ring was heard, Elise's voice warmed her shattered heart.